“The idea that the Crusades and the fight of Christendom against Islam is somehow an aggression on our part is absolutely anti-historical,” Santorum said. “And that is what the perception is by the American left who hates Christendom.”

Liberals “hate Western civilization at the core,” Santorum added. That's the problem.”

American military activity in the Middle East promotes “core American values,” Santorum said.

“What I'm talking about is onward American soldiers. What we're talking about are core American values. ‘All men are created equal' — that's a Christian value, but it's an American value.”